Archived: Insiders Thread

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Hi paidgeek - do you know how close BD-J is to allowing Warner to release IME titles that have been released on HD DVD but not Blu-ray?
WOuld you have any idea how much work is involved for them to release a title on Blu-ray with the same interactivity?
I'm really looking forward to Blu-ray versions of Troy, Batman Begins, V for Vendetta and others.

The trouble is the IME is more of a PiP issue than a Java one. The players won't be able to natively provide this kind of function until late Summer or Fall.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

The trouble is the IME is more of a PiP issue than a Java one. The players won't be able to natively provide this kind of function until late Summer or Fall.

This is the whole "player needs two video decoders to do PiP" issue, right?

If so, two questions:
1.)what does this mean for the PS3?
2.)why was BD's PiP designed this way if the players released during the first 1+ yrs wouldn't/didn't have dual video decoders? I have to think there was a specific good reason, OR the BDA just decided to "take the hit" on PiP functionality upfront and wait til the hardware caught up with the interactivity demands.

Finally, Sony Pictures has announced a few waves of titles for 2Q. Spiderman 1/2 have not been among them. Is it safe to say at this point that neither is coming in 2Q, or am I assuming too much? Please note, I'm not really trying to pin you down. Let me rephrase it, & give you some wiggle room. Would a Spiderman 1/2 BD release warrant a special standalone announcement/press release just for those one/two titles (which could still be part of 2Q release plans)? Is that better?

Thanks!!!

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Sorry we can't be of more help on this title. We will be happy to author it for Universal on BD though...

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Spiderman 1/2 have not been among them. Is it safe to say at this point that neither is coming in 2Q, or am I assuming too much? Please note, I'm not really trying to pin you down. Let me rephrase it, & give you some wiggle room. Would a Spiderman 1/2 BD release warrant a special standalone announcement/press release just for those one/two titles (which could still be part of 2Q release plans)? Is that better?

On a recent Sony title I bought, they had the usual "Blu-Ray" preview of the movies on Blu-Ray. Spider-Man 2 was listed as one of the "Coming Soon" titles.

Not sure when they'll announce it.

[GaS]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Everyone is very pleased. A press release will come out shortly announcing that over 100K units of this title have been sold. Things are looking very promising for Blu-ray.

Paid

Is that 100,000 sold US only?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by GaS

Paid

Is that 100,000 sold US only?

Yes, US domestic sales. I think the number is north of 85K sold in at the moment, but by the time the release hits, it will be 100K.

[Scorxpion]

Congratulations to ALL ,i think we should celebrate one day

[milou6]

Does anyone know if the PS3 (or any BD players) decode TrueHD 7.1 yet? Thanks!

[Scorxpion]

Eventually it should decode 7.1 TRUE-HD just wait for a new receiver which is compatible with PS3 HDMI OUTPUT

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Scorxpion

Eventually it should decode 7.1 TRUE-HD just wait for a new receiver which is compatible with PS3 HDMI OUTPUT

?

It already decodes 7.1 TrueHD out of the box.

[Scorxpion]

yes i know but you cant get this if you dont have an HDMI receiver capable of 7.1 surround and hdmi input this is what i mean sorry

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Esox50

This is the whole "player needs two video decoders to do PiP" issue, right?

If so, two questions:
1.)what does this mean for the PS3?
2.)why was BD's PiP designed this way if the players released during the first 1+ yrs wouldn't/didn't have dual video decoders? I have to think there was a specific good reason, OR the BDA just decided to "take the hit" on PiP functionality upfront and wait til the hardware caught up with the interactivity demands.

Finally, Sony Pictures has announced a few waves of titles for 2Q. Spiderman 1/2 have not been among them. Is it safe to say at this point that neither is coming in 2Q, or am I assuming too much? Please note, I'm not really trying to pin you down. Let me rephrase it, & give you some wiggle room. Would a Spiderman 1/2 BD release warrant a special standalone announcement/press release just for those one/two titles (which could still be part of 2Q release plans)? Is that better?

Thanks!!!

I expect the PS3 to have the HP to support PiP, but I cannot confirm it at this moment. This would mean customers will able to update their devices and add this function, plus others...

The CE companies did not originally design their players to support PiP so they made provisions to allow the sale of players that cannot support it with the understanding that by later this year, they must support it. Better not to have the feature than to have lost a year in the market place.

SM 1 and 2 should not be expected in the Q2, but definitely this year...

[GaS]

Paidgeek

Will we be seeing the Casino announcement this week? Also, does that figure represent actual customer sales or sales to dealers?

[milou6]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

?

It already decodes 7.1 TrueHD out of the box.

Thanks PeterTHX, that's great news (and please forgive my ignorance)! Now all I need is DTS-HDMA decoding...

I read here that LotR will feature TrueHD 7.1 on BD and come out late this year: http://hd-insider.com/2007/01/17/lor...kling-out.aspx

[Rob Tomlin]

I'm pretty sure that is wishful thinking regarding LOTR being released anytime this year.

I'd love to be wrong though.

[Damon Payne]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

...
I expect the PS3 to have the HP to support PiP, but I cannot confirm it at this moment. This would mean customers will able to update their devices and add this function, plus others...

The CE companies did not originally design their players to support PiP so they made provisions to allow the sale of players that cannot support it with the understanding that by later this year, they must support it. Better not to have the feature than to have lost a year in the market place.

...

If the Matrix Trilogy announcement circulating today is true (out on hd-dvd long before BD) Warner's answer is likely to be that they are waiting on the In-movie-experience in BD. Not having this feature ready sooner and not initially knowing how Warner was going to treat this feature (required for release) are probably unavoidable items now but people seeing that they have to have HD-DVD to watch The Matrix is the first of the mistakes that will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It's unfortunate.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I expect the PS3 to have the HP to support PiP, but I cannot confirm it at this moment. This would mean customers will able to update their devices and add this function, plus others...

Ok. Thanks. It does beg the question that IF the PS3 can do it and the PS3 comprises the majority of BD players in use today, then why not enable PiP now? It seems this is delaying the BD release of some Warner titles such as Batman Begins, and now evidently the Matrix series. I'm interested in the former.

Originally Posted by paidgeek

The CE companies did not originally design their players to support PiP so they made provisions to allow the sale of players that cannot support it with the understanding that by later this year, they must support it. Better not to have the feature than to have lost a year in the market place.

Got it. As with anything in life, the pro & cons were weighed, and the decision was made. I do think it was the right decision, especially in light of the early momentum HD DVD had built up.

Originally Posted by paidgeek

SM 1 and 2 should not be expected in the Q2, but definitely this year...

Thanks for responding when you certainly didn't have to do so. I guess I'll stop checking the daily news waiting for that Spiderman announcement for Q2 then. Now I can focus on going to watch Part 3, and then after that I'm sure I'll be anxiously awaiting the Trilogy on BD later this year. I expect you guys are going to go ALL OUT for this series. Look forward to seeing what you guys got cooking with Spiderman!!!

Oh, and let's see if we can get Bram Stoker's in the meantime. Wasn't that supposed to be one of Sony's first BDs?

[Damon Payne]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Oh, and let's see if we can get Bram Stoker's in the meantime. Wasn't that supposed to be one of Sony's first BDs?

Yeah, one of my all time favorites! I own it on Superbit DVD and it has great picture and sound, if the source is in good shape that woudl be a reference title.

[Rob Tomlin]

Stoker's Dracula would be mesmerizing on BD!

[blublublu]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I expect the PS3 to have the HP to support PiP, but I cannot confirm it at this moment. This would mean customers will able to update their devices and add this function, plus others...

The CE companies did not originally design their players to support PiP so they made provisions to allow the sale of players that cannot support it with the understanding that by later this year, they must support it. Better not to have the feature than to have lost a year in the market place.

I would hope players that don't support PiP will still be able to play discs with this capability: they just won't be able to take advantage of it?

If BDA does something to strand these players that would be a pretty sad state of affairs.